Bed-bottom.



F0 HODBL.

PATENTBD JUNE 30, 1903..

J. RANZ. i

BED BOTTOM.

APPLIOATIQN FILED APB. 28.11902.

UNTTED STATES Patented June 30, 1903.

PATENT OEEicE.

JACOB RANZ, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD TO ADOLPII -VOGLER, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

BED-BOTTOM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. '732,1 12, dated June 30, 1903.

Application filed April 28,1902.

To @ZZ zzz/tom, it may concern;

Be it known that I, JACOB RANZ, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Louis, Missouri, have invented a certain new and usefulImprovernentinBed-Bottoms,ofwhich the followingisa full, clearand exact description, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanyxo ing drawings, forming part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of a bed with my presentinvention applied, certain of the parts being broken away. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view chiefly in sectional elevation; and Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the frame, a portion of one of the supportingplates, and the central brace.

Myinvention relatestoimprovementsin bedbottoms or the like; and it consists in certain features of noveltyin the construction thereof whereby I am enabled to produce a bed-bottom either formed with the structure of the frame of the bed or adapted to be manufactured as a separate article of commerce independently thereof and applied to the bedframes Where desired and when used will possess features ofadvantage,because ofyielding 3o readily to pressure, and be easily adjustable to provide increased or diminished resistance to greater or lesser weight carried thereon.

To these ends and also to improve generally upon devices of the character indicated my invention consists in the various features hereinafter described, and specifically pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawings, 1 represents the side rails of the bed-botten, and 2 the end 4o rails thereof, which may be of any convenient form adapted to support and securely hold the other members of my improved bottom, and said rails may or may not be separable from the supporting-legs of the bed, as preferred. As shown in the drawings, the ends 3 of the rails 1 are formed with bent tapered ends adapted to interlock with sockets 4 in the upturned ends of the head-rails, though it will be apparent that said members may 5o be connected together in any suitable manner adapted to hold them in the form of a Serial No. 105,010. (No model.)

frame for supporting the other members of the combined bed-bottom. The frame thus formed can be laid upon the side rails of a bedstead in a wellunderstood manner, or the end rails 2 can be removed from the frame and the coupling members 3 of the side rails can enter the usual sockets of the coupling devices 0c, commonly carried by the head and foot frames A and B of an iron bedstead. It 6o will of coursebe apparent that the coupling members 3 can be of such character that they will cooperate with coupling devices of a bedstead formed in any convenient manner or with end members separate from the bedi5 stead, if desired.

Supporting-plates` Gare pivotally connected to the curved side rails or edge supports 1, and this connection can be conveniently effected by stamping tongues or projections 7o 7from the said supportingplates,said tongues engaging the said side rails both above and below the same, as clearly shown in Fig. 3. Each supporting-plate has a series of leafsprings 8 upon its outer side, said springs be- 75 ing conveniently secured in position by rivets 9, and the springs extend upwardly and then curve inwardly and'downwardly over the top edges of thesaid plates. A bed-bottom proper, 10, preferably formed of canvas or some other 8o suitable fabric, spans the space between the opposite series ofV springs and extends over the said springs, the edges of said bottom proper being fastened upon the supporting-plates or springs in any suitable manner. I have here shown the edges as looped and clamped between the outer surfaces of the springs and a clamping-plate 1l, said clamping-plate being forced against the' fabric by means of bolts 12, extending through the said 9o plate, the springs, and the supporting-plate and provided with nuts upon the inner side of said supporting-plate. In order to guard against any withdrawal of the fabric from between the surfaces clamping the, same, I'eX- 95 tend the loop 13 at the edges ofthe fabric beyond the said clamping-plate `and placelin this loop a rod or other suitable fil-ler 14. It is to be noted that the various springs S are independently movable-that is to say, they Ioo are not connected to a common rod or other memberand for this reason the bed-bottom I A c Y is free to yield at any portion of its surface, thus secu ring a springy action ofl the character incident to a woven-wire bed-bottom. Furthermore, the springs are arranged close together, whereby the bottom proper is evenly su pported directly thereon. Preferably each spring has its portion between the free spring end and the point at which the spring is secured to the supporting-plate curved away from said plate and from the said pointI of attachment, as illustrated in Fig. 3. VThus When the spring is under minimum inward strain (as when a light child is upon the bedbottom) said spring is long and light. As, however, heavier weights are applied to the bed-bottom the spring is drawn inwardly and engages the supporting-plate at points nearer the free end of the spring, whereby the effective spring portion becomes shorter and stronger. Thus the spring accommodates itself in strength to theinward strain to which it is subjected, the fulcrum-point of the spring shifting to accommodate the various strains. The said springs S and the bed-bottom proper lie above the side rails, and a suitable tension device l5 connectsthe said supportingplates below the said side rails, whereby the portions of the said plates below'the rails can be drawn toward each other, and the bottom proper can thus be stretched and the springs can be placed under greater tension. Many formsof tension devices can be employed; but I have here shown two headed rods 16, which pass through extensions 17 upon the supporting-plates, the opposing inner 'ends of said rods being threaded and connected by a tnrnbuckle 1S.

Preferably the upper edge of the supporting-plate is curved inwardly, as shown at 19, this curved upper .portion of the supportingplate lying below and to the inner side of the springs and being in such position that it forms a stop member to prevent undue downward movement (and consequently undue compression) of the springs.

In order to keep the side rails properly spaced notwithstanding the strain exerted by the tension member and the bottom proper, I provide brace-rods 20 intermediate the frame ends, said brace-rods having their ends abutting against the opposite side rails and being preferably bent downwardly, as shown at 2l, in order to permit a sufticient depression of the bottom proper. The said braces can conveniently be formed of gas-pipe, provided at the ends with socket-blocks 22, removably fitting into the said pipes, said socket-blocks having rail-sockets 23 formed in their outer surfaces. Preferably the socket-blocks lie between projections 7 upon the supportingplates, whereby displacement of a brace in the direction of the length of the side rails is prevented.

Iam aware that many minor changes in the construction, arrangement, and combination of the several parts of my device can be made and substituted for those herein shown and described without in the least departing from the nature and principle of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure byLetters Patent, is-

l. In a bed-bottom or the like, a rail, supporting-plates attached thereto by means of projections upon said plates engaging the rail, and a bottom proper supported upon said plate; substantially as described.

2. In a bed-bottom or the like, a rail, supporting-plates attached thereto by meansof projections upon said plate between which said rail lies, and a bottom proper supported upon said plate; substantially as described.

3. In a bed-bottom or the like, a rail, supporting-plates connected thereto by means of a tongue struck therefrom and engaging said rail, and a bottom propersupported upon said plates; substantially as described.

4. In a device of the character indicated,

'supporting means, spring-plates secured to said supporting means upon the outer side thereof and adapted to bear against said supporting means, and means for increasing the tension of said spring-plates; substantially as described.

5. In a bed-bottom or the like, a curved rail, a supporting plate, projections upon said plate upon opposite sides of said rail securing said plate to said rail, a bottom proper supported upon said plate, and means forholding said plate in pivotally-adjusted positions; substantially as described.

6. In a bed-bottom or the like, a rail, a supporting-plate, a suitably-supported spring, an attaching member formed upon said plate for connecting the same to said rail, and a stop member also formed upon said plate for preventing undue compression of said spring; substantially as described.

7. In a bed-bottom or the like, a rail, a supporting-plate, projections upon said plate engaging said rail, whereby said plate is pivotally connected to said rail, a leaf-springsupported upon said plate and extending above said plate, the upper portion of said plate below said spring forming a stop member to prevent undue compression of the spring, and an adjustable tension device,engaging` said plate to swing the same about its pivot; substantially as described.

8. In a'bed-bottom or the like, opposite rails, a yielding bottom proper supported IOO IIO

above the same, and a brace-rod locked in polO. In a bed-bottom or the like, rails, a supporting-plate connected thereto, a brace for said rails extending between the same, and locking engagement between said supportingplate and said brace; substantially as described.

l1. In a bed-bottom or the like, rails, a supporting-plate, a brace for said rails extending from one to the other, and projections upon said plate engaging said rail and lying upon opposite sides of said brace; substantially as described.

l2. In a bed-bottom or the like, side rails, end rails, curved supporting-plates secured to one set of said rails, spring-plates connected thereto and extending above the upper line of said plates, and means for increasing the tension of said springs; substantially as described.

13. In a bed-bottom or the like, end rails, side rails, curved supporting-plates pivotally p secured to one set of said rails, spring-plates connected thereto and extending above the upper line of said plates, and means for increasing the tension of said spring-plates; substantially as described.

14. In a bed-bottom or the like, side rails, end rails, curved supporting-plates secured to one set of said rails, spring-plates connected thereto and extending above the upper line of said plates, and tension means for increasing the tension of said spring-plates; substantially as described.

I5. In a bed-bottom or the like, side rails, end rails, curved supporting-plates secured to one set of said rails by integral tongues struck from said plates, spring-plates connected thereto and extending above the upper line of said plates, and means for increasing the tension of said spring-plates; substantially as described.

I6. In a bed-bottom or the like, side rails, curved supporting-plates secured thereto by integral locking means and extending above said rails, spring-plates secured to said supporting-plates upon the outer side thereof and adapted to bear against said supportingplates, and means for increasing the tension of said springplates; substantially as described.

17. In a bed-bottom or the like, side rails, curved su pporting-plates secured thereto and extending above said rails, the said plates terminating in an inwardly-curved portion, spring plates secured to said supportingplates upon the outer side thereof and adapted to bear against said supporting-plates, and

curved supporting-plates secured thereto and extending above said rails, curved springplates secured to said supporting-plates upon the Outer side thereof and adapted to bear against said supporting-plates, and means for increasing the tension of said spring-plates; substantially as described.

20. In a bed-bottom or the like, side rails,

curved supporting-plates secured thereto and extending above said rails, spring-plates secured to said supporting-plates upon the outer side thereof and adapted to bear against said supporting-plates above the point of connection therewith, and means for increasing the tension of said spring-plates; substantially as described.

21. In a bed-bottom or the like, side rails, curved supporting-plates secured thereto and extending above said rails, spring-plates secu red to said su pportin g-plates upon the outer side thereof and adapted to bear against said supporting-plates, and means connected to the lower portion of said plates for increasing the tension of said spring-plates; substantially as described.

22. In a bed-bottom or the like, side rails, curved supporting-plates secured thereto and extending above said rails, spring-plates secured to said supporting-plates upon the outer side thereof and adapted to bear against said supporting-plates, and means connected to a depending lower portion of said plates for increasing the tension of said spring-plates; substantially as described.

23. In a bed-bottom or the like, side rails and end rails, a brace-rod, supporting-plates on said side rails, and means thereon for locking said brace-rod in position; substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature, in the presence of two witnesses, this 25th day of April, 1902. p

' JACOB RANZ. Witnesses:

GALEs P. MOORE, GEORGE BAKEWELL. 

